Thunderstorms rolled across north Georgia and we sat in anticipation of blue skies as our pilot announced that we were number thirty-two for takeoff. Only a few hours later our anticipation grew as we spotted oil tanks at BOPEC and the red roofs of Rincon off to the left. No matter how many times we do it, watching Kline Bonaire pass below and hearing screeching tires on the runway brings chills and a great big grin. We don't know why we do it but passengers always applaud the landing. Then when our foot touches the tarmac we feel like we'ree home.
Since we got there two-hours late we shared customs and baggage claim with the flight from Newark but a cool breeze blew and time passed quickly. We grabbed the bags and headed for car rental while others brought ice-cold Amstel Brights and we toasted our arrival. We stopped at the grocery and then to the hotel. Ray and Carla stopped to make dinner reservations at Bobby Jans Barbeque and the whole process went so smoothly we stopped to think this was too easy, did we forget anything? We ate like pigs and sleep came early and easy.
Sunday we did the mandatory first dives at the resort and fought a mild current. Parker did well on her open water checkout and we made sure everyone was properly weighted. After three dives between Eden and the Our Confidence we headed north. We enjoyed the reef at Oil Slick and Old Blue. Some had the jeebies with the giant stride at Oil Slick but all avowed that the dive was worth it. We crossed the mountain to Rincon on the way back and were delayed by a huge herd of goats. It seemed that every time we turned from one side of the road to the other the goats went the same way as us. The babies sounded so pitiful as they ran along bleating. Rincon was basically deserted on a Sunday evening. We turned and crossed Seru Largu to spend a few minutes admiring the island lights. Exhausted, we had dinner at the hotel.
On Monday the morning current still acted up so those of us who didn't go on the boat drove to the old Flamingo Beach pier and drifted back to Eden. On the third dive at Eden we found the seahorse. He was brown and shy and protected from the current by a crevice. We couldn't help but stare in awe at such a magnificent creature. In the afternoon we headed south to The Lake and then back to the private beach at Windsock Resort. We misjudged the turn point at The Lake and ended up way down current from our exit point. It was indeed a long trip back. We were amused by Ray being stuck in the sand and Jodi's intense look as she charged up the hill in her little truck spewing gravel in her wake. We searched for the elusive orange seahorse at Windsock but never found it. We stopped for dinner at Cactus Blue.
Tuesday the morning current was slack so we headed to Our Confidence. She's gradually being reclaimed by nature but still a pretty dive. We made several trips back to the seahorse showing him off to folks and then to Something Special. Most of the group found the frogfish. We stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken and had picnic dinner at Windsock Resort. Large Iguana came round trying to abscond with our dinner. While waiting for our night dive we witnessed firsthand the green flash. Then a huge KLM plane seemed to come right over our heads and was an inspiring sight with its landing lights aglow. The night dive, well we won't talk about that one.
Wednesday we headed for the Hilma Hooker and enjoyed a fantastic tour of the old lady. We went the tourist route around the south end stopping at all the sights. We ate a leisurely lunch at Jibe City and then got a tour of the Windsock Beach Resort. We drove back to Margate Bay where we saw one of the biggest grouper ever. Our delight was a stop at Tori's Reef. I don't believe I have ever seen the concentration of marine life atop the reef late in the afternoon. Mark it down that this is a fantastic site. The group saw a large eagle ray. We met a group from Huntsville and together our cheers abounded as we witnessed the second green flash in two days. Brights came from the cooler and we toasted our fortune. Cactus Blue was booked so we enjoyed dinner at Eden Beach.
Some of the folks rested Thursday and three of us headed for Something Special. The current ran from south to north so we walked to the Yellow Submarine and drifted back to Something Special on the second dive. The crew at Wannadive gave a rum punch party in our honor at the hut. We enjoyed snacks from the barbecue and some fine rum punch. We presented several prizes for display in the hut. We had dinner at the Lions Dive. Curt, as always, put on a wonderful faire.
Friday we went north again to Andrea I and to Thousand Steps. We saw someone kayak diving at Andrea. Thousand Steps was crowded when we first arrived but the crowd soon went away. May-May did her one-thousandth dive at Thousand Steps. We saw a fantastic variety of marine life and waltzed in the open water. We finished our air with a second dive and toasted her accomplishment. Eden Beach Restaurant treated us to a barbecue on our last evening. Jim and Lesley's daughters celebrated Jim's birthday with a cake.
We felt as if we were leaving home on Saturday. We sat quietly in the airport but there was not much to be said except, "What a wonderful week!"
Since we got there two-hours late we shared customs and baggage claim with the flight from Newark but a cool breeze blew and time passed quickly. We grabbed the bags and headed for car rental while others brought ice-cold Amstel Brights and we toasted our arrival. We stopped at the grocery and then to the hotel. Ray and Carla stopped to make dinner reservations at Bobby Jans Barbeque and the whole process went so smoothly we stopped to think this was too easy, did we forget anything? We ate like pigs and sleep came early and easy.
Sunday we did the mandatory first dives at the resort and fought a mild current. Parker did well on her open water checkout and we made sure everyone was properly weighted. After three dives between Eden and the Our Confidence we headed north. We enjoyed the reef at Oil Slick and Old Blue. Some had the jeebies with the giant stride at Oil Slick but all avowed that the dive was worth it. We crossed the mountain to Rincon on the way back and were delayed by a huge herd of goats. It seemed that every time we turned from one side of the road to the other the goats went the same way as us. The babies sounded so pitiful as they ran along bleating. Rincon was basically deserted on a Sunday evening. We turned and crossed Seru Largu to spend a few minutes admiring the island lights. Exhausted, we had dinner at the hotel.
On Monday the morning current still acted up so those of us who didn't go on the boat drove to the old Flamingo Beach pier and drifted back to Eden. On the third dive at Eden we found the seahorse. He was brown and shy and protected from the current by a crevice. We couldn't help but stare in awe at such a magnificent creature. In the afternoon we headed south to The Lake and then back to the private beach at Windsock Resort. We misjudged the turn point at The Lake and ended up way down current from our exit point. It was indeed a long trip back. We were amused by Ray being stuck in the sand and Jodi's intense look as she charged up the hill in her little truck spewing gravel in her wake. We searched for the elusive orange seahorse at Windsock but never found it. We stopped for dinner at Cactus Blue.
Tuesday the morning current was slack so we headed to Our Confidence. She's gradually being reclaimed by nature but still a pretty dive. We made several trips back to the seahorse showing him off to folks and then to Something Special. Most of the group found the frogfish. We stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken and had picnic dinner at Windsock Resort. Large Iguana came round trying to abscond with our dinner. While waiting for our night dive we witnessed firsthand the green flash. Then a huge KLM plane seemed to come right over our heads and was an inspiring sight with its landing lights aglow. The night dive, well we won't talk about that one.
Wednesday we headed for the Hilma Hooker and enjoyed a fantastic tour of the old lady. We went the tourist route around the south end stopping at all the sights. We ate a leisurely lunch at Jibe City and then got a tour of the Windsock Beach Resort. We drove back to Margate Bay where we saw one of the biggest grouper ever. Our delight was a stop at Tori's Reef. I don't believe I have ever seen the concentration of marine life atop the reef late in the afternoon. Mark it down that this is a fantastic site. The group saw a large eagle ray. We met a group from Huntsville and together our cheers abounded as we witnessed the second green flash in two days. Brights came from the cooler and we toasted our fortune. Cactus Blue was booked so we enjoyed dinner at Eden Beach.
Some of the folks rested Thursday and three of us headed for Something Special. The current ran from south to north so we walked to the Yellow Submarine and drifted back to Something Special on the second dive. The crew at Wannadive gave a rum punch party in our honor at the hut. We enjoyed snacks from the barbecue and some fine rum punch. We presented several prizes for display in the hut. We had dinner at the Lions Dive. Curt, as always, put on a wonderful faire.
Friday we went north again to Andrea I and to Thousand Steps. We saw someone kayak diving at Andrea. Thousand Steps was crowded when we first arrived but the crowd soon went away. May-May did her one-thousandth dive at Thousand Steps. We saw a fantastic variety of marine life and waltzed in the open water. We finished our air with a second dive and toasted her accomplishment. Eden Beach Restaurant treated us to a barbecue on our last evening. Jim and Lesley's daughters celebrated Jim's birthday with a cake.
We felt as if we were leaving home on Saturday. We sat quietly in the airport but there was not much to be said except, "What a wonderful week!"
